Interview with Anee Shah
Meet Our Design Contest winner, Anee Shah! We were thrilled to release her gorgeous design with our Mother’s Day sale this year, and we know it will be a customer favorite! Today, we are sharing a little bit more about Anee, her creative process, and her best tips for productivity and success. Read on to enjoy her inspiring interview!
Tell us a bit about yourself:
I am a scientist turned artist and mama of two. Boston based but truly an old soul of the universe, I paints floral and landscape paintings that evoke a sense of nostalgia and a feeling of being home. Characterized by gestural brushwork, my work is contemporary, moody and brings a level of warmth to the space.
How did you become an artist?
While newly recruited in a 9-5 job, I found myself with some free time in the evenings and I figured I'd give painting another try.
It remained a hobby until my daughter was born. I started noticing all the pretty watercolor patterns on swaddles, diapers, blankets, you name it and I felt like I could paint these! During one of the midnight nursing sessions I googled my way into the world of surface design. It completely blew my mind that there was an entire design industry dedicated to making patterns for products. That was circa 2018 and that night sowed the seed of someday becoming a full time artist.
Fast forward to 2020, right before the pandemic hit, I left my cushiony full time job as a scientist. I was pregnant with my second and I figured this would be as good a time as any to start my second career in art. It would allow me to stay at home with the kids and pursue my creative path.
So I quit.
And then the world changed.
After some adjustments, I launched my business in the summer of 2020 as a licensing artist. Since then, I have worked with a number of brands and small businesses and have had my work come alive on apparel, baby accessories, kitchen and yoga towels, bolt fabric, phone cases and more. Over the years, my business evolved to accommodate fine art and now I also sell landscape + floral paintings and fine art reproductions through my website.
What does your typical day look like?
Typically I like to start off my day by waking up before everybody else to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. After the morning rush and school drop off, I try to sneak in a quick workout and then get to my emails. After that it's mostly fluid. Some days I reserve for printing and packaging my fine art reproductions and on other days I like to immerse myself in painting. Pretty soon it's time for school pickup and then I spend the rest of the day with kids/family.
How do you come up with designs? Walk us through the process.
I'm an intuitive painter and I typically dive into a painting without knowing how it will turn out in the end. Most days I'm translating what I'm feeling or what I'm seeking at the moment. I try to evoke a sense of calm, rest and a feeling of nostalgia through my warm florals or expansive moody landscapes. Once the painting is done, I scan it at a high resolution, clean it up in photoshop and get it ready for printing on products or as fine art prints.
What keeps you creatively inspired?
Creativity is a form of self-care for me. I have to put a brush to paper for me to be a better mom/wife. This motivation to be a better person for my family keeps my inspiration going.
I'm also inspired by slow intentional living and the bygone days when life was simpler and slower.
What is your best advice for staying organized and productive?
One practice that stuck with me from my corporate career is that I jot down my top 3 things-to-do for the next day, the evening before. This helps me jump into things right away without waffling around. As a mom to toddlers, my time and energy are quite limited and this simple practice helps me stay productive
Another BIG thank you to Anee for her shared insights, and her beautiful design. We can’t wait to see this cover on your 2022-2023 notebooks and planners!